Prefabricated building structure



Jan. 6, 1942. c. H. 'SCO TT 2,268,907

PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUC TURE Filed April 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l4 YNVENTOR C'HAlfLES H Starr.-

ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 6, 1942. c. H. SCOTT I YPREFABRICATED BUILDiNG STRUCTURE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR. C'HA/ELES H Scar-z Filed April 10, 1939 Mame ATTORNEYLS.

, Patented Jan. 6; 1942 'Fig. is a perspective view of a portion of rnnmnnrcn'mn nunmnvosrnuo'ronn "chalet 11. Scott, Cincinnati, out, some: to

, e Globe-Wernicke Comm, Norwciod, Ohio,

a o 'lwratlon of Ohio Application April 10, 1939. Serial No. 266.945

This invention relates to building structures and particularly to structures of the type in which the various units are prefabricated along standardized lines so that the work of erecting a building' may be performed by relatively unskilledlabor and in a very short time.

It is an object of my invention to. provide a structure as outlined above which will involve a number of standardized parts of simple design and which will be'inex'pensive to manufacture. It. is another object of my invention to provide such a structure in which the various elements are fastened together in asimple. manner, and in which the fastening means insures registry of the parts and in which the fastening means are concealed from view, whereby the structure from;

either the inside or the outside presents a smooth flnish. A further object of my invention involves the provision of an arrangement wherebyif it should become desirable to move the building to a different location substantially the entire structure can be salvaged and rebuilt elsewhere. It

is a still further object of my invention to provide a structure which may be thoroughly insulated and which while both inside and outside walls may be made from steel. will not cause a high heat loss through the walls because there is no metal to metal contact between the inside and outside walls.

These and other objects of my invention which will be described "in more. detail hereinafter r I8 is which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications. I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangementof parts of which I have shown a number of exemplary embodiments. Reference is now made to the drawings forming a part hereof, and in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an exemplary building made according to my invention, with parts broken away to show the wall structure. Fig. 2 is a roof view of the structure of Fig.4, with parts of the. roof materialbroken awayto show the roof deck. Fig. 3' is a cross sectional view taken on the line H'of Fig. L-sliowina progressively from left to right the assembly of the structure.

Fig. 4 ma view similar toFig. 3'showing a reversed structure. 1

wall panel. p

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the fasteningkeys. P

Fig. {I is a partial perspective'view of the man- 4. ner in which the locking key fastens two adjacent wall panels together.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross sectional view on-the line H of Fig. 1, showing the foundation and 5 the bottom of a wall.

Fig. .9 is across sectional view taken on the line 9-,! of Fig. 1, showing theupper end ,of a

wall and the roof deck. I

Fig. 10 is a crosssectional view taken on the 10. line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

. Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view through an inside wall or partition. x

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line: li -l2 of Fig. 1, showing the door Jam con- -l5 struaction.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line lI -i3 of ,Fig. 1, and showing the window sill construction.

v Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken "on the 1ine 14- of Fig. 1. showing an upper portion of the window,

Fig. 15 is across sectional view taken on the line |'5.l5 of. Fig. 1; showing the side construction of the window. r

26 Fig. 16 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing an exemplary porcelain enamel panel which may be used for the outside wall.

Fig. 17 is a partial perspective view of'a panel having means for engagement with a wooden nailingstrip;

g a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional' view through one of the nailing strips 20 of Fig. 11 showing how the panels of Fig. 1'1 are applied. Q For the purposes of this disclosure 1 have shown my inventionin connection with a small building such as may be suitable for gasoline stations and the like. It wm beimderstood. of course, that a building according-to my invention may be made 40' of much greater size and may be modified as'to shape. and floor plan in any desired way.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I pro-' vide a number, of wall panelssuch as are shown in Fig. 5, the edges being formed so as to embrace a wooden nailing strip, Adjacent panels are fastened together bymeans of a key shown in Fig. 6, and an outer surface may be nailed to the g" wooden nailing strips. It will be understood, of

course,that thewall structure may be reversed ,50 so that the nailing strips-may" face inwardly,

Preferably, I provide a concrete foundation indicated at It in Fig. 8, which will, of course, be of a size and form specified by the architect. Preferably bolts ii are imbedded in the concrete and the concrete will be extended to form the floor. l2 of the building. Angle irons I! are fas- 7 maybe Slots l8 are provided in the portion it, said slots,.15

having enlarged central portions as shown. Adjacent panels are fastened together by means of a key 19 of H-shape, shown in Fig. 6. The slots is are of asize to admit one of the upper right hand portions of the H and the central enlarged portion of the slots i8 is of a size to permit the r key to be turned to a horizontal position. The key then positioned to the bottom of the slots is, as shown in Fig. 7. The slots l8 are accurately spaced in the web l6 so that the operation of driving the key is down to its seat in its slot i8 brings-about a registry of the panels l5.

'By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the assembly of a number of panels i4 bring adjacent channel portions I! together to form a hollow rectangular member partially open at the opposite side from the panels l5. Within these hollow rectangular members are seated the nailing strips 20. It will be noted that the strips have an extending ridge indicated at 200 which projects beyond the channel portion 11 so that if ametal memberis nailed to the nailing strips there will be no contact between it and the panels I. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the construction may be reversed and that an insulating portion or wall board of any desired type indicated at 2|, may be nailed to the nailing strips 20.

A preferred construction for the outer wall in theform of Fig. 3 is shown in more'detail-in Figs. 8, 9 and 16. This construction involves a number of panels or pans shown in perspective 'in Fig.-16. These pans 22 are in the form of a small shallow box having extending flanges at.

oneQendat 22a. The flanges are. preferably drilled as at 2217 .and the pans areprovided with studs :23 and slots 24. These pans are applied from the bottom upwardly,'each pan being nailed in position through the perforations 22b and a succeeding pan being placed in position with the slots 24 embracing the studs 23, thesucceeding panel again being nailed as before. The lowermost panel is slightly different in form, as shown in Fig. 8, in that instead of the flange with the slots 24, it is'provided with'a hook portion 2! engageablewith a hooked element 28 which is screwed to the structure as at 28a. Preferably small spaces will be left between the pans 22- and these may be filled with a calking compound. If desired, some sort of insulating material may be applied under the pans 22, as indicated at". This may be some form of insulating board or it may be a material similar to tinfoil. Preferably, the pans 22 will be given a coat of pcr-r celain enamel in desired color so that the exterior surface of the building mayvery easily be washed; It will be understood that atthe corners of the building the structural elements may be given a curved form as" shown at'2l in Figs. 3 and 4.

Interior walls may be built if desired .in the same manner as exterior walls or the structure may be simplified as shown in Fig. 11. Here the panels I may be the same as those described above and are fastened together in the samemanner, and are also fastened to the outer walls in the same manner as described heretofore. In this case, however, use may be made of panels 28 which may be simply of channel shapeand the nailing strips 20 may be slotted to accept the arms of the channel shaped panels .28.;These scre or nailed to the strips 20 as indicated at 2. According to a preferred arrangement, ho ever, the panels 28 are formed with inwardly struck up elements 28a in the flanges thereof, as shown in Fig. 17. The elements 20a on the op'posed flanges'are preferably staggered in relation to each other. In assembling these panels, the flanges of a pair'of adjacent panels 28 are forced into the slot in a strip 20 at a point about an inch above their desired position. The

panels are then pounded downwardly in their plane. During this latter movement, the elements 20a cut themselves into the body ,of the strip 20 as shown in Fig. 18, and will not pull out.

The parts can of course be salvaged if a building.

is to be moved, by tearing the panels out, or sliding them back in the way they were inserted. In rebuilding, the panels are inverted, and thus by virtue of the staggering of the elements 2's, they will enter portions of the strip 20 which have not been cut up. It will of course be clear that under some conditions, the inside wall construction may be satisfactory for an outside wall, and I therefore do not desire to limit myself as to the location of a wall by virtue of its construction.

The 'roof deck construction will now be described. Near the tops of the side walls I provide angle irons ll which may be fastened as by self threading screws 3| to the side walls. If desired, finished strips 32 may be applied so as to give the interior of the building a smoother appear-' ance. The-roof deck preferably consists of. a number of beams which may bein cross section similar to thepanels i4 above described. Pref erably, however, they will be narrower so as to be better capable of sustaining load. These are similarly laid across the building on the angles '20 and any desired building board may be nailed tothe nailing strips 2| which are the same as heretofore described, as indicated at 34. Wooden finishing strips of triangular cross section indicated at II are provided and preferably a threepiy mopped on roofing is applied as shown at 3.8. The roofing material, is preferably extended up over the side walls as indicated at 21, and an angle member 28 is provided to hold the'rooflng in place. The second angle 2! is also fastened as by means of a self threading screw ll passing through the angles 30 and 21 through the roofing and into the side walls, as maybe clearly seen in Figs.'9 and 10. The angle II is provided as a mound attachment for a cornice member indicated generally at II. This may, of course, be of any desired configuration and the lower flange thereof at 42 is provided with slots just the same as the slots 24,.so that it may engage with the studs 22 at the uppermost of the pans 22. The inner end of the cornice 4| may simply be fastened to theanglell as by means of anut and it'consists of a jam member generally in'di cated at I, of any desired'shape providing av portion to cooperate with the closed door as indicated at 4E. The member 44 may be fastened in place by means of self threading screws 46,

aaeaaov j I A said panels, and a plurality of"l-l'-shaped fastening keys, the cross portion of said H being of a width to form a drive fit in the end portions of said slots, whereby said keys may be inserted into or in any other desired manner. A fragment of "5 the slots. rotated through an angle of substanthe door is indicated at 41. It will be clearfrom this figure that the door may be made to open inwardly or outwardly as desired. v

The'window frame structure is very similar to tially 90 degrees, and driven down into the 'ends of the slots to fasten two panels together, and

coincidentally to register the planes thereof, the

'- length of said cross member being substantially the door frame structure and it is contemplated, equal to twice the gau e of the panelswhereby' that any conventional steel window may be uti lized whether of the sash or casement type. The

side frames take the form of a member 48 whichis quite similar to the member I! Just described, and. it is fastened in place in the same manner;

The window'frame is fastened in place by means of self threading screws or similar devices 49,

preferably in such manner that the putty Ill used inthe glazing operation covers the screw, head as shown. For the lower and upper sills I prefer to provide angle members II which may be fastened to the wall members as by meansj of the self threading fastening'member I2; The sill members may be of any desired shape, although I prefer to make the upper member of the shape indicated at 53 so as .to project slightly from the front wall of the building and the, lower sill is preferably of the form indicated at havfollow.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

, 1. A building wall structure comprising a number of panels of generally channel shape having spaced'hook like portions and having means for the panels are also drawn tightly together.

4. A building wall structure comprising a number of pane generally channel shape having hook portio along their edges spaced from the plane of s d panels, means-between the plane assembled relation providing. substantially tubularportions having openings longitudinally thereof, insulating members seated in, said tubular portions and extending through said open- .ings and other panels comprising shallow channel shaped members having engaging elements ininsulating members'being slotted, and contiguous flanges of adjacent of said other panels entering said slots and held therein by means of said engaging elements.

5. A building wall structure comprising a number of panels of generally channel shape having 'hookportions along their edges spacedfrom the plane of saidpanels, means between the plane of said panels and said hook portions forfastening said panels together, 'said hook portions in A assembled relation providing substantially tubuj lar. l portion having openings longitudinally thereof, insulating members seated in said tubular portions and extending through said openingsand other panels comprising shallow chano nel shapedmembers having enga i g elements inwardly struck out from the flanges thereof and I constituting an abrupt shoulder facing the web,

1 said insulating members being slotted, and con- 1 tiguous flanges of adjacent of said other panels fastening number of panels together between 4 entering said slots and held therein by means of r the planes thereof and said hook shaped portions, said hook shaped portions when in assembled relationship forming substantially tubular elements ha longitudinal. i l Hunt- 5 plane. of'said panels, means between the plane ing members disposed in said tubular portions and extending through said openings and beingslotted insaid extensions, and another number of panels of simple channel shape afllxed to said of said panels and said hook portions for fasten-- ing said panels together, said hook portions in assembled relation providing substantially tubue s lar portions having openingsfllongitudinally sulatin rtions with the arm s id han'- m 8 p0 i c ,-thereof, insulating members seated 'in said tubunels entering said slots.

slots. being accurately spaced from the planes of .said panels, and a plurality of H-shaped fasten-v ing keys, the crossportion of said H-beingof a width'to form a drive flt in the end portions of' tially 90 degrees, and driven; down into the ends of the slots to fasten two panels together, and coincidentally to register the planes thereof.

lar portions and extending said open ing's and other panels comprising shallow channel shaped members having engaging elements inwardly struckpout from the flanges thereof and constituting an abrupt shoulder facing the web,

said engaging elements in opposed flanges being staggered in relation ,to each other, said insulat ing members being slotted, and contiguous flanges of adjacent of said other panels entering said slots, whereby said keys maybe inserted into 165 and held therein y e s f said the slots, rotated through an angle of siibstangaging elements.

'7. A building structure comprising a plurality of substantially standard outer panels and a number of substantially standard inner panels,

a. In combination with a plurality of building one of said number of p els in assembled relawall panels of generally-channel shape, means for releasably fastening adjacent panels fngether,

comprhing slots in the arms, of'said said slots having enlarged central porticns'and said tionship constituting also a number of studs for said structure, means for releasably fastening adiacent'panels together comprising slots inthe arms of said panels, said slots having enlarged slots being aceuratelyspaced from the planes one central portions and said llotsbeing accurately spaced from the planes of said panels,and a plurality of H-shaped fastening keys, the cross portion of said H being of a width to form a drive fit in the end portions of said slots, whereby said keys may be inserted into the slots, rotated through an'angle of substantially 90 degrees, and

driven down into the ends of the slots to fasten two panels together, and coincidentally to reginsulating strips held in assembled relationship to said studs and means for fastening said other number oi panels to said insulating strips, where- I by direct conduction of heat from the inner to the outer panels or vice versa, is eliminated.

CHARLES H. SCOTT. 

